Currently Obsessed:: Connections

Since 1992 Rockathon Records has been the outlet for countless Guided By Voices and Robert Pollard related releases, with the exception of Columbus, OH's 84 Nash who released two LP's of excellent lo-fi pop with Rockathon, The King Of Yeah and 1999's Band For Hire. 84 Nash suffered the same fate that many unappreciated and overlooked acts suffer and disbanded after those releases. However last year founding members Kevin Elliott and Andy Hampel returned as Connections and released their debut full length, Private Airplane. The band  also features Kevin's brother, Adam Elliott of Times New Viking, bassist Phillip Kim and Dave Capaldi  of OH's art punk outfit El Jesus de Magico. Connections recently issued the Tough City EP witch essential picks up where there debut left off with 4 tracks of concise and catchy as all hell fuzzed covered pop songs that would have bowled us over in 1993 and have us completely hooked in 2013. Were currently obsessed with Alternative Nation from the aforementioned Tough City EP, it's ode of sorts to the 90's, not to mention a nod to our beloved Lemonheads and their big hit single.  Connections have just finishing mixing and mastering their 2nd LP, Body Language which according to their tumblr page will be out shortly.

Reviewed:: The National - Trouble Will Find Me [4AD]

It was definitely a surprise and delight when I stumbled upon Matt Berninger from The National on The Colbert Report hyping the new album, Trouble Will Find Me. The surprise was that I hadn't known the new album was coming out so soon, the delight was Graceless which they played Live. The truth is, I usually only like about 60% of the National's work, I love the crap out of that 60%, but I tend to find the other 40% to be too dark and moody, sometimes it’s just too stark to be enjoyable, in my opinion.

So when I spun up the new album, the opening track I Should Live In Salt, I was worried, very worried. Its a bold way to start an album, and I must say its not my favorite. Thankfully I didn't stop there, because the rest of the album is a wonderful adventure. I'd classify the tracks as a successful study in contrasts that are put together masterfully. I initially thought they fell into two clear categories, but as l listened through the tracks I quickly realized that each song had many elements. Some of the albums highlights (songs that my executive editor could have predicted I'd love) Sea of Love, a song that is everything that is good and right about The National, it starts off with driving guitars and pounding drums, then it slowly builds and builds. Its hard not to be standing up and singing the final lines as the song reaches is climatic finale. Meanwhile, This is The Last Time is a dreamy slow burning track that finds the band exhibiting their gift for crafting strong melodies as well as Berringer's knack for penning morose and biting lyrics. The aforementioned Graceless features The National at their most cutting and volatile, the track has a strong chorus with excellent backing vocals and god knows I'm a sucker for good backing vocals

I think the real gems are within those tracks that I would normally classify as the 40%. Fireproof and Heavenfaced are like a mirror images of each other, with Fireproof demonstrating their craft with strong instrumentals and Heavenfaced showcasing Berringer’s vocal range. The albums final track, Hard to Find is a dark and menacing tale of a spurned lover, with a chorus laced with a little spite, "They Can All Just Kiss Off Into The Air".

After a shaky start Trouble Will Find Me is not only in heavy rotation and the only album I've listened to for about two weeks now, even if I still start of on track two. ~ Scott Gamester

Trim For Victory :: An Interview With Dean Wells

The last we heard from Dean Wells, the creative force behind AGP favorites, The Capstan Shafts was last fall when he quietly released three 4-song EP's under the moniker Loud Springs. That is until last week when Wells returned as Rare High only to release 12 new tracks over three more EP's. We are sensing a pattern here, nonetheless the fuzzy low fi pop that he delivered with The Capstan Shafts and more recently with his Loud Springs project, is on full display throughout the new EP's. In fact you'll  need to look no further than EP #1's opening track, Sullen Leers to be reminded of Wells' gift for crafting scrappy and endearing songs with undeniable pop hooks.

Just last night Dean was gracious enough to answer a few questions about the recording of the new material, forgoing record labels, and the possible future of The Capstan Shafts.

Bryan Hamill: What was the recording process for the material the ended up being released for the Rare High EP's?

Dean Wells: It's pretty straight forward really, once I've got a fairly good idea of the song I run through on guitar,add drums,then bass,then vocals. I record it all to 4 track from there I mix it down and start over.

BH: Do you have any plans for a physical release of the these EP's or does the Bandcamp model suit your needs better right now?

DW: There are no legitimate release plans right now. I like that Bandcamp has a complete absence of consequence, it reminds you to do it for fun.

BH: Just last year you released three 4-song EP's as Loud Springs and in the last week you've issued three more EP's as Rare High what is behind the name changes?

DW: It's nice to clean slate things, but then I'll listen to it all later and and it all sounds similar so I don't have a good answer.

BH: Your last live shows were in support of The Capstan Shafts 2010 LP Revelation Skirts, Do you have any plans to play these new songs Live?

DW: I can't seem to keep a band together or else I'd play out far more often than was healthy

BH: Have we seen the end of you recording as The Capstan Shafts?

DW: If I had a bunch of material that I wanted to put out under that name I wouldn't hesitate. For now I'm just having fun with other presentations and the idea that a collection can exist independent of any history, at least for me.

The Rare High EP's which can streamed below and are available as a pay what you want offering at Rare High's Bandcamp dojo, we recommend supporting Mr. Wells as well as these fine releases with a monetary donation of your choosing. Thanks to Dean for taking some time out of his Thursday night to answer these questions and for sharing these new songs with us.







Photo Credit: The Capstan Shafts @ T.T. The Bears 01/18/11, photographed by Brian Rutledge of Hallelujah The Hills

This Weeks Short Burts :: Robert Pollard's Teenage Guitar, Ovlov, + Future Carnivores

Hot on the heels of the recently issued and might I add exceptional, English Little League from Guided By Voices and just a week after the announcement of the impending Robert Pollard solo release, Honey Locust Honkey Town comes Teenage Guitar a Pollard solo project that features appearances from GBV's Greg Demos and Joe Patterson. Teenage Guitar's Force Fields At Home features 18 tracks recorded at Pollards home studio using a historic mid-90s Tascam 488 cassette recorder. He wrote the lyrics while the music was composed spontaneously while the tape ran. According to the press release we can expect, "Experiments in spontaneity and lo-fi witchiness and wizardry, exploring multiple moods and styles". Teenage Guitar and Honey Locust Honkey Town will both be released on July 9th. Atlantic Cod finds Pollard in his natural habitat, recording a fuzzed up pop gem in the confines of his home. Teenage Guitar welcome to  my wheel house.
Teenage Guitar - Atlantic Cod via Stereogum

I seem to have developed a small problem in that I can't seem to stop playing the new Ovlov track, Blue Baby that the band recently posted to their bandcamp. It's not so much a problem than it is an obsession and one I probably won't be able to shake anytime soon. That track finds the brothers Hartlett delivering on the promise on their grunge infused 2011 EP, WASGATC? Blue Baby starts with a slow building chord progression before the Connecticut trio blast headlong into discordant guitar fuzz, head pounding rhythms, and subtle yet engaging hooks throughout the bands sprawling and flat out stunning new single. Ovlov will release their debut long player, am on July 2nd via Exploding In Sound Records, in the meantime they're currently in the middle of a tour of the northeast with Boston's Grass Is Green, not to be missed.


On Tuesday June 4th 6th Boston pop deconstructing sextet, Future Carnivores will release Come Inside the bands second full length and if the tracks they've been sharing over on their Soundcloud page are the slightest indication Future Carnivores have have just kicked the sophomore slump squarely in the teeth. With tracks like Blame Time and The Drugs She Fed You Last Night the song writing duo of Ruben Bettstak (Guillermo Sexo) and Bo Barringer (MEandJoanCollins) continue to expertly marry post-rock/post punk and shoegaze while pushing the bands sounds to new and captivating directions. Future Carnivores will celebrate the release of Come Inside on Thursday June 6th with a Record Release show at T.T.'s.

Transmissions :: Guerilla Toss - Drip Decay

Boston's rising noise purveyors , Guerilla Toss are about to issue Kicked To The Crib, a split with New York's Sediment Club on Feeding Tube Records. In advance of that release, they've posted their first ever video for track Drip Decay. Hopefully none of you suffer from nightmares or are easily freaked out, because these visuals could send Wayne Coyne to cower in the corner. However the bizarre and disturbing imagery compliments the spazzed out cacophonous track perfectly.

Guerilla Toss play The Middle East with Retox, Neptune, and Doomsday Student on May 15th

Short Bursts :: Hallelujah The Hills | English Singles | & Propeller

After over four months of inactivity I'm pleased to back at the helm of this blog I started in May 2006 and look I forward to regular updates as well a few changes around here which will include some new contributors, features, events, and a few design changes. As always thanks for readership, not to mention your patience. [Ed.]

Today see's one of The AGP favorites, Hallelujah The Hills issuing Portraits Of An Artist As Young Trash Can, which collects singles, B-sides, and unreleased tracks. The 21 track LP can be purchased at the bands Bandcamp site. 5 of the tracks found on Portraits Of An Artist .. were recorded in 2013 including the exceptional and anthemic, Confessions of An Ex- Ghost. This release showcases the bands evoultion as well as showcasing Ryan Walsh's gift for writing intelligent and addictive material that only gets better and better with each subsequesnt listen.


Following two superb singles, Sacramento, CA's crash pop outift English Singles are back with a new three song EP via Slumberland Records. The EP's opening and title track, Ordinary Girls features fronter, Scott Miller leading the singles through the earnest and boyant track while provinding 12 string leads and engaging pop hooks. Like thier previous singles that have the knack of sticking in your head all day, Ordinary Girls is no different, in fact it's even more adictive than it's predocessors.


San Francisco power pop heroes, Propeller have issued there sophomore set, Don't Be Sorry Again it's choc full mid 90's power pop that brings to mind early Teenage Fanclub and The Replacements , but Propeller manage to put their own stamp on it, balancing guitar cruch with a strong batch of songs. I'm hoping a Boston show is in the future, perhaps with our friends Varsity Drag on the bill?  I'm not above begging.

Live Tonight :: HallelujahThe Hills, 14 foot 1, CreaturoS, and Magic Magic @ The Middle East Upstairs

Tonight at The Middle East AGP favorites and Boston's genre bending popsmiths, Hallelujah The Hills play a rare early set on an impressive bill that featutes 14 foot 1 celebrating the release of their new 7" Two. As well as sets from CreaturoS and Magic Magic. Hallelujah The Hills have been working on the follow up to this years superb No One Knows What Happens Next, perhaps the band will give a glimpse into the material they're currently working on. Doors are at 8, for more information consult the  FB Event page.

Video Premiere :: The Hush Now - I'm Always Broke In December + An Interview With Barry Marino

Boston indie pop stalwarts and AGP favorites, The Hush Now have returned to continue their now yearly tradition of recording and releasing smart and engaging tracks for the holidays. Come to think of it, that's the bands year round MO. In October the band issued their Halloween single, The Flapper and late last month delivered I'm Always Broke In December in time for Christmas. The wistful and flat out beautiful track was written by drummer and vocalist, Barry Marino. We recently caught up with Barry to discuss the new song, the recording of the next full length from The Hush Now, and the art of bad Christmas gifts. In addition were thrilled to be able to premiere the just completed video for I'm Always Broke In December, which Barry just finished editing and sent over to us in the middle of the night.

The Ash Gray Proclamation: Can you tell me how the new Holiday single, I'm Always Broke in December came about?

Barry Marino: I was in my apartment last December, working a riff to death on the guitar. I started singing sarcastically about products in the commercials of some bad Christmas movie. I realized I couldn't afford most of them. Then I got bummed. money seems to evaporate for musicians, especially during the holidays. The positive to being broke and disenchanted during the holidays is knowing that, in the least, I can go home and enjoy time with my parents and sisters and lots of wine.

AGP: What is your approach on making videos, weather it be for a song or a video flyer to promote a show?

Barry: The two approaches definitely differ. A great song can lend itself to a great storyline for a music video, but the visuals need to retain the viewer's attention in order to be successful in any way. I try to find ways to challenge myself and not repeat ideas. For me, video fliers are fun exercises in creating something to quick to grab someones attention. I usually try to have fun with them using different background music or filming techniques, but all in all it all comes down to making a funny one minute movie.

AGP: What is your main goal or objective When you commit to making a film to accompany a track like I'm Always Broke In December?

Barry: All bets are off when it comes to Christmas videos. I'm not sure there is a way to not make a Christmas song/video cheesy. I went in knowing that the expectations weren't as severe as they usually would be for a regular video. Still, I like to take the creative process as seriously as I can and still get the footage I need. This was the first video I directed that I also took the lead, however. It was interesting to hand out instructions and set up shots while dressed in wig and costume. I'm not sure I want to do that again as it was a lot to juggle. The actors in the video are some friends and family, so it tied in well with the song content and the spirit of the season. The craft service table I set up of Irish coffees and beer certainly didn't hurt the effort.


AGP: In the spirit of the new song and video, what's the worst and the best gift you have ever given for Christmas?

Barry: I'm terrible with gift giving. I've always liked hand-made gifts. The best gift I've given might have been a Leg Lamp (from A Christmas Story) that my mother and I put together for my father. He promptly put it up in the attic window so it would overlook the neighborhood with pride. My sisters have always received the worst gifts from me. I made them these really nice, boutique cd cases and told them that the cd inside was a personalized song that summed up my feelings for them. It was a 3 minute loop of the 4 worst sounds I could make. I also gave them soap.

AGP: What can you tell us about the recording of the next album from The Hush Now?

Barry: In October we headed back to Mad Oak Studios and started recording with our captain, Benny Grotto. Mad Oak feels like home, it was a lot fun to crank out 12 new songs. These ones are a mix of new tunes written together and other songs/ideas individually brought to the table. With Memos, we had started to show that everyone in the band is a songwriter. This latest batch of songs evolved from that idea. Everyone has a couple. I believe we're heading back into the studio early 2013 (Apocalypse pending) to record another batch of songs we're currently working out, from which we'll have to sit down and decide what to do with them all.

AGP: We've seen a steady stream of solo recordings on your Bandcamp page, most recently last springs I Made These Gems In A Month. Can we expect more solo releases coming down the pike?

Barry: You bet, I don't think the writing will ever stop. I have a handful of songs I'm currently working on, I'll most likely write/record another album in February for the RPM Challenge (http://rpmchallenge.com/) and I usually have one-offs that I put online. I have some audio/video projects as well, but we'll have to see what the schedule look likes.

AGP: How do you decide which songs you'll present to the band and which ones will be included in your solo output?

Barry: I think every idea I have usually starts out intended as a solo effort. If there are a lot of quiet acoustics or hushed vocals, I might think it wouldn't work with the band. But that's not always the case. Things Fall Down and I'm Always Broke In December were initially solo songs that the band decided to work out together.

Mainly, if the song is fun and I can picture Noel dancing along, I'll submit it.

I'm Always Broke In December is available at The Hush Now Bandcamp page as a pay what you want deal. We recomend paying a visit, grabbing the track and supporting The Hush Now.

Thank you to Barry Marino as well as the rest of The Hush Now for taking the time and sharring their music and new video. Cheers [ed.]

New [Holiday] Sounds Now :: Los Campesinos Give The Gift Of A Seasonal Smash

Welsh twee punk goliaths, Los Campesinos have just presented their Christmas gift, when earlier today they offered up thier Holiday themed new single, A Doe To A Deer as a free download . The band will play their last show of the year this Saturday at Islington Assembly Hall in London, which will be there last with bassist Ellen Campesinos who announced just last week that she will be leaving  the band. 2013 will find the band issuing the follow up to 2011's exceptional, Hello Sadness LP. In the meantimne head on over to LC! Blog  grab the track which sits on the top of our holiday playlist as well hold us over until the band issue there next and highly anticipated full length.

New Sounds Now :: Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites

This is usually the time of year when we turn our attention to year end lists and the like. However seeing how our energies were pulled away from the site at times this year and its been a bit sporadic around here, so we thought we would write while the opportunity presented itself. In addition we're looking toward the next year as a new begining around here, so look for some changes coming which will include regular and frequent updates as well as new contributors in the coming months.

 We would like to  turn your attention to some holiday music that in our estimation is well worth a listen, as well as providing a welcome respite to the overplayed and tired sounds of the season.

A couple of artists from London's superb Audio Antihero label, Benjamin Shaw formally of Nosferatu D2 as well a as recently turning in a series of staggering solo releases has teamed with instrumental outfit Fighting Kites for This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone). The track was originally included on Darren Hayman/Fika Records advent calendar. But now available as a charity single/pay what you want offering. Proceeds from the track go to Shelter- The Housing And Homelessness Charity. Shaw's solemn vocal and Fighting Kites direct and dynamic instrumentation on the track make this a nearly flawless collaboration.

Introducing :: Alarm Bells

Just a year has passed since Glasgow Fight Pop concern, Dananaanaakroyd called it a day and just like they're back, well sort of. Earlier this week on the defunct band's facebook page they announced that a new project featuring the bulk of the Danaananaakroyd line up, Alarm Bells was issuing Part One, a limited edition 12" LP. Alarm Bells features  including, John Ballie Jnr (vocals), David Roy (guitar), and Ryan McGinness (bass). Part One features the epic 13 minute Whitemare and the bands impressive debut single Cocoons be sure to check the accompanying creeped out animated video which you can see here.

You can order the debut release from Alarm Bells, part One at their Bandcamp page. All proceeds will go to funding the bands next release, Part Two.

Tonight in Cambridge :: A Place To Bury Strangers, Bleeding Rainbow, & Young Adults @ The Middle East

Looking for an excuse to get off the couch and into the clubs tonight? Look no further than tonight's line up at The Middle East. In what can only be described as a noise rock super-bill that features New York's shoegaze outfit, A Place To Bury Strangers, Philadelphia's Bleeding Rainbow, and Allton's noise rock titans, Young Adults will have us leaving the suburbs in the rear view. Join us and shake off this never ending Monday with this formidable bill, bring your earplugs this shit's gonna be loud and awesome.

For More information and ticketing see the event page.

Transmissions :: The Motel Beds - Smoke Your Homework

The last time we checked in on Dayton Ohio's The Motel Beds they had just released the superlative Tango Boys LP and were included on our Top Albums of 2011 and justly so. Well The Beds are back with an LP choc full of British invasion fueled mid fi pop excellence that rivals their high water reaching Tango Boys with Dumb Gold. The bands eighth album was recorded at home in Dayton by guitarist Darryl Robins and features 10 tracks from songwriter's Paul John Paslosky and Tommy Cooper that find the prolific duo showcasing their gift for churning out songs that are both insanely catchy and filled with timeless pop hooks. Earlier this week the band issued Dumb Gold and premiered a video for the albums lead track and perfectly titled, Smoke Your Homework which you can view above.

Dumb Gold is available as a free download or even better throw down a measly 5 bucks for the physical copy at The Motel Beds Bandcamp page.

Reviewed :: Guided By Voices - The Bears For Lunch

To get one new album from the reformed classic line up of Guided By Voices would have been enough to satisfy any fan of Guided By Voices but the fact that The Bears For Lunch marks the third LP of new material from Dayton, OH's indie rock legends is enough to have any fan from the casual to the die hard beside themselves. In January Pollard and Co. kicked things off with the excellent, Lets Go Eat The Factory and in June delivered the equally impressive Class Clown Spots A UFO. The Bears For Lunch finds GBV unveiling a set of songs that are bit more fleshed out and a little less ramshackle than its predecessors, it makes for an incredibly consistent and employable listen from beginning to end. Not to worry there's plenty of off the cuff lo-fi charm here but the experiments are perfectly executed with strong pop structures, often within the same song.

Upon many listens I'm left wondering is this what the follow up to Under The Bushes, Under The Stars would have sounded like if Pollard had left this line up in tact instead of hooking up with Cobre Verde for Mag Earwig!? I suppose we'll never know, but the songs that occupy Bears have plenty in common with those found on Under The Bushes, in that both LP's strike a balance between, full throttled pop anthems, rich melodies, and stark melancholy but the album also features some of the spit shined fidelity that Pollard dabbled in with GBV's post classic line -up releases.

The album kicks off with Kind Arthur The Red, a full tilt charging guitar track complete with jackhammer drums courtesy of Kevin Fennell. That song sets the tone for the LP beautifully. With no disrespect intended to the previously mentioned 2012 releases from the band, The Bears For The Lunch feels like the album that GBV were working toward since they regrouped in 2010 and as a result the band display a ton of focus without losing their gift for crafting thrilling pop songs. To say this line-up contains two gifted songwriters is a a ridiculous understatement, although it's never been more obvious that the two bring out the best in each other. Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout deliver their finest contributions of the reunion here with Sprout's Beatlesque gems, Waving At Airplanes and Skin To Skin Combat, while Pollard turns in what might be his strongest song cycle in recent memory, highlighted but not limited to the flawless pop nugget,White Flag and the heartbreaking ballad,You Can Fly Anything Right. The Bears For Lunch finds Guided By Voices firing off 19 tracks in over 43 minutes with not a second is wasted. Every song here reminds of just why we we fell in love with this band in the first place. The album not only picks up where they left off earlier this year with Class Clown Spots A UFO, it picks up where they left off in 1996. The Bears For Lunch is an outright triumph.

Transmissions :: Hallelujah The Hills - Call Off Your Horses

If there's one regret with our over discussed spring/summer hiatus its that we didn't get the chance to proclaim our admiration for the third and to our ears finest LP from Boston indie pop giants, Hallelujah The Hills No One Knows What Happens Next. The album has been in heavy rotation at AGP HQ since its release last May. Jah Hills fronter Ryan Walsh recently directed & edited the video for Call Off Your Horses, one of many highlights featured on the completely stunning new(ish), LP at his now former employers Cambridge Theatre Company. The video was premiered earlier today at MTVHive. Watch the video, then buy the album, that is if you havent already.

Order No One Knows What Happens Next at the Hallelujah The Hils Bandcamp page

Tonight:: A Benefit For Community Servings

Tonight at Great Scott our pals at Clicky Clicky Music Blog our presenting a benefit show for Community Servings, the Jamaica Plain-based organization delivers 395,000 free, home-style meals to 1,300 people per year, to those who are too sick to cook for themselves or their families. The event features what could easily be the strongest line ups to play Boston this year, featuring sets by local psych pop heroes, Guillermo Sexo, North Hampton's Speedy Ortiz, Boston's rising shoegazers, Infinity Girl as well as the first ever Boston appearance from England's finest purveyors of captivating guitar pop, Johnny Foreigner.

Tickets are just $10 and all proceeds go to benefit Community Servings clients. For further details head on over to the Facebook event page.

This Weeks Short Bursts :: A Week In Review - Guided By Voices, The New Highway Hymnal, We Are Losers, and Soccer Mom

It's already been a banner year for Robert Pollard and his beloved Guided By Voices. We've already seen Pollard issue two LP's full of new material with GBV's classic line up, the excellent Lets Go Eat The Factory was released in January and last spring brought the equally impressive Class Clown Spots A UFO. Not to mention two very good solo releases, Mouseman Cloud and last months Jack Sells The Cow.

With no signs of slowing as he continues to make a mockery out of the word prolific, Pollard alongside Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos are about to release their 3rd album in the last 12 months with The Bears For Lunch on November 13th via  GBV,Inc. By all reports the album picks up where Class Clown Spots A UFO left off, however the songs are reportedly more fleshed out, not unlike the transition the band made from Alien Lanes to 1996's masterful, Under The Bushes Under The Stars. The track Hangover Child was included in the bands Live set this summer and based on the video linked below, it features all the GBV touchstones charging guitars, a muscular and intricate rhythm section, and incredible melodies.

Hangover Child Live @ The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA July 07.06.12

Word has it that the pre-orders for The Bears For Lunch will go Live tomorrow at Rockathon/The Factory of Raw Essentails. In the meantime if you act now you still might be able to grab the limted edition 7's, for three album tracks, Everywhere Is Miles, White Flag, and the previously mentioned Hangover Child all of which come with non album b-sides. Last we heard they were going fast and only a few remained, so go get yours.

This week found local psych punk droners, The New Highway Hymnal releasing their full length debut, Whispers and celebrated that achievement in fine fashion with a record release show at Great Scott. Recorded in the bands hometown of Haverhill and issued by Michael Morrotta's Vanya Records. Whispers has quickly become our go to record of the month. The album is psych pop gem and begs to be heard and talked about. For proof, check the albums final and completely staggering track, Hey Kid (Gotta Run). Get your digital copy at Vanya or grab the vinyl from Big Cartel.

Next Show: The New Highway Hymnal Play TT The Bears On November 11th.



Dublin's fuzz poppers, We Are Losers are back with new single Salt Lips which is backed by an acoustic demo for the previously released track Moany. Apparently the band his been sitting on Salt Lips for a while, early this week the Irish quartey decided to offer as a for free download. The track exhibits all of the bands strengths, gigantic pop hooks, guitars drowning in distortion, and an infectious chorus. Can the bands debut full length be far off, we certainly hope not.



Boston's noise pop phenoms, Soccer Mom are set to release there first dose of new music since they issued last years superb, You Are Not Going To Heaven which landed firmly among our favorite releases of 2011. The Brides/Canoe digital single will be issued on November 6th via 100m Records. Soccer Mom will celebrate the night before when they provide support for Young Prism at Great Scott and plan to have a few physical copies of the single available at the show.

The Brides/Canoe single is available now for pre-order at 100m Records Bandcamp dojo.
Go get yours.

Transmissions :: Divine Fits - Would That Not Be Nice

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Here at AGP HQ we have watched the summer fade into fall, traded our Ill advised sun burns and t-shirts for flannels, hoodies and the comfort of our couch. Not sure where I was headed with all that other than to say that we are embracing the changing season and trudging on, with songs of late summer nights bouncing around our brains. In Late August Divine Fits released there debut long player, A Thing Called Divine Fits ever since that LP has been in heavy rotation and provided our soundtrack to another spectacular New England autumn. Divine Fits features AGP favorites, Brit Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade/Handsome Furs), and Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks). No other track and now video,epitomizes our appreciation for the Fits'and their excellent debut than, Would That Not Be Nice.

Divine Fits will play there first Boston area show when the trio to take to the Royale stage on October 17th.

Live Report: Dr. Dog With Delta Spirit @ Lupos Heartbreak Hotel| Providence, RI|September 19, 2012

As I walked into Lupos Heartbreak Hotel the other night I was instantly reminded of the several shows I had seen in the famed Providence, RI venue over the years. Granted the venue has had three different locations since it's 1975 opening and seen countless bands pass through it's doors, but I've been lucky enough to have seen a number of superb shows at this venue. However for some reason I haven't found my way to Lupos in the past few years. The formidable double bill that featured two of our country's finest purveyors of scrappy Americana and earnest roots pop, Philadelphia's Dr. Dog and California's Delta Spirit was the perfect excuse for my return.

As I made my through the venue I could hear that Delta Spirit had taken the stage to a raucous crowd that would hang on every word from fronter, Matt Vasquez. The band delivered a well balanced set with drawing equally from there sterling and 2012 issued self titled release as well as their sturdy back catalog. Immediately the bands dynamic comes through live anchored by Vasquez' rich vocals and Delta Spirit's ability to blend folk, blues, and elements of classic rock into something wholly unique, all while delivering a stirring and energetic performance throughout. The band closed their set with, California the bands most recognizable track, which immediately turned into a sing along with everyone in the room bopping their heads in unison to Vasquez's tale of a well adjusted breakup, as the band brought their feverish and impressive performance to close.

Dr. Dog took to the stage outfitted in their finest thrift store garb and armed with a an impressive song book that they've crafted for the past 13 years over 7 LP's. Seeing the band last spring in Boston gave me a glimpse into their prowess for high caliber musicianship and rousing Live performances, my expectations were justifiably high and Philli's ramshackle odd ball pop enthusiasts failed to disappoint. From the opening chords of The Rabbit, The Bat, and The Reindeer it was apparent that the band was thrilled to be back on stage, as this was the 1st show of another tour to support the bands latest album, Be The Void. Dr. Dog are engaging as well as thoroughly entertaining on stage, with bassist Toby Leaman jumping and spinning about until he was soaked with sweat and Scott McMicken stomping guitar pedals and frantically hopping across the stage. The bands sound reaches new heights in the Live setting, some things that can be missed on their records, like how strong the harmonies are and how McMiken and Leaman voice compliment each other perfectly. Dr. Dog highlighted their set with some cherry picked tracks from their back catalog, Shadow People and The Breeze as well as the earnest pop tracks found on their excellent 2012 offering Be The Void, Lonesome and Heavy Light. As the beer and sweat soaked crowd danced, sang along and hung on the bands every note, Dr. Dog proved once again why they continue to be one of America's most dynamic and engrossing Live bands.

New Audio: Paul Westerberg Shares My Road Now

It's in cases like these, that we run to our computer or to the nearest rooftop, to share some unexpected and completely welcome news. Earlier today the venerable Paul Westerberg posted a new track, My Road Now concurrently to his official site and to the I Will Dare fan blog. Westerberg's manager, Darren Hill who explains in Minnesota Star Tribune today, that this is a song Paul felt like sharing, there is no new album or tour coming anytime soon. "It's just a new song he wanted to get out there. No agenda." My Road Now is an off the cuff piano ballad, its immediate, heartbreaking and the first new recording from the rock legend in two years, bask in the glory.

  Paul Westerberg - My Road Now